"The Thrashers" is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of friendship and the dark side of social hierarchies in high school. The story centers around Jodi Dillon, who finds herself in the elite circle of the Thrashers, a group that embodies wealth, sophistication, and the allure of popularity. However, Jodi's place among them feels tenuous, especially as she grapples with her insecurities and the pressure to fit in.

The plot takes a dark turn with the tragic death of Emily Mills on prom night, a girl who yearned to be part of the Thrashers. As whispers of bullying and suspicion swirl around the group, Jodi is thrust into a moral dilemma when Emily's journal is discovered. The tension escalates as detectives investigate the circumstances surrounding Emily's death, forcing Jodi to confront her loyalty to her friends versus figuring out the truth and doing what’s right.

What makes this book particularly compelling is its exploration of the supernatural elements that arise as eerie messages and strange accidents begin to haunt the Thrashers. The atmosphere is thick with suspense, leaving readers questioning the boundaries between guilt and the supernatural. The author skillfully weaves a narrative that not only captivates but also challenges perceptions of friendship, ambition, and the consequences of our choices. "The Thrashers" is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a blend of mystery and psychological depth, making it a haunting exploration of the lengths we go to belong.

Talk about riveting. It’s a combination of so many true crime stories and a spooky alt edition of 13 reasons. I was obsessed with all of the characters and periodically catch myself wishing for real time updates on the case before I bring myself back down to earth and remember it’s fiction.

Obviously I was going to read another book written by Julie Soto, so when I saw it on NetGalley I jumped on it! I was hooked from the beginning and definitely did not see that ending coming! A YA mystery that covers some heavy topics and has some fun paranormal elements. It follows the main characters, a popular group of rich, cliquey kids, after a tragedy occurs at their school and they’re the main suspects. Preorder this one now if you love YA mystery/thrillers!

Thank you NetGalley and Julie Soto for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!

ARC for review, publish date May 6, 2025.

The Thrashers, an exclusive friend group of 5. Every once in a while an extra joins ffora few months and then get dumped, or Thrashed. Last year Emily was that girl, but she commits suicide and now they are being investigated for bullying and encouraging her to kill herself.

But, strange occurrences keep happening to the friends in their own way. Some have sleep paralysis, some have night terrors, and some are almost killed. Is it a coincidence or is it Emily coming back from the grave to get revenge? Jodi, the main character tries to understand what is happening while dealing with her own personal problems and feeling like she's an outsider of the group. Is she going to be the next person to be Thrashed?

The epilogue got me and maybe hints at another book....maybe 🤔.

Welcome to New Helvetia High, and meet The Thrasher’s - high school’s elite clique. Everyone wants to be a Thrasher, but no one wants to be thrashed.

If Julie Soto writes it, I will read it. She has proven she can do no wrong in any genre she writes. This was such a slow burn, and I loved every minute of it! The mix of thrilling vibes, supernatural elements and teenage drama had me turning pages nonstop. It will keep you guessing until the end.

Also - THE EPILOGUE?!

This one is perfect for fans of Pretty Little Liars. 13 Reasons Why, A Good Girls Guide To Murder.

TW: suicide, bullying, loss of a parent, domestic abuse, alcoholism, obsession, socioeconomic differences.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the arc.

The Thrashers. That’s what people call them. Zack Thrasher and his friends, Julian, Lucy, Paige and Jodi, are the “it” crowd at New Helvetia High School. Everyone is desperate to be in their clique, including the new transfer, Emily Mills.

Jodi is different from Zack, Julian, Lucy and Paige. She’s the only one not from a wealthy family and sometimes she feels like she doesn’t fit in, despite being Zack’s childhood best friend. But when Emily dies, evidence unravels implicating The Thrashers and Jodi begins to question everything she thought she knew about her friends.

I could not put this book down! I read it in less than 24 hours. My mind is blown! There were so many unexpected twists and turns, I was on the edge of my seat from the beginning. Don’t let the fact that this is YA deter you. It’s is a psychological thriller full of drama and mystery about the high school social scene, cliques, bullying, stalking, obsession and so much more. I absolutely loved it! Julie Soto has become an auto-buy author for me. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an ARC of The Thrashers in exchange for my honest review.

A classmate gets killed and The Thrashers are accused of being the reason she died. This book had a lot of possessive and spirit talk to it. It was pretty easy to figure out who was sending the texts and harassing The Thrashers but overall the book was great! Makes you think about how you treat others and being honest with them. There is a lot of talk about suicide in this book.
Easy and good read, I recommend!

Right from the start of this book, I was hooked by the glamorous and drama-filled world of New Helvetia High's elite friend group. I loved getting to know Jodi, who felt like the relatable outsider among the rich and sophisticated Thrashers. Zack, her childhood best friend, added a nostalgic and endearing touch to the story for me. As soon as Emily Mills' passing was introduced, I was on the edge of my seat, eager to uncover the secrets and whispers surrounding the Thrashers. I found myself eagerly flipping through the pages as eerie messages and strange occurrences began to escalate. The suspense and twisty turns kept me guessing, and I couldn't help but be fascinated by the detectives closing in and Jodi's impossible choice between betraying her friends or protecting herself. I thoroughly enjoyed the mix of high school drama, mystery, and supernatural elements. The characters' interactions and the thrilling plot made it impossible for me to put the book down.

I highly recommend "The Thrashers" to anyone looking for a fun and suspenseful read that will keep them up at night!

I didn’t know what to expect from this book, other than something amazing due to its incredibly talented author. This is not my normal genre, but I’d read a Julie instruction manual! What she delivered in this book was a YA crime thriller high school love quadrangle paranormal mean girls with an Abercrombie model and a slow burn that we’re cheering for but can’t really trust. We’ve got a bit of an unreliable narrator here because we see friends who mostly behave as friends, but Jodi, angsty with insecurity and FOMO, perceives herself as the expendable member of the most exclusive clique in school. Oh, and now she’s lumped into an investigation of the suicide of a classmate (friend?). What responsibility do she and her friends bear? And why do awful and creepy things keep happening to them?

4.5 stars. If you are looking for a fast paced book that will keep you hooked and on the edge of your seat the entire time, look no further! In thrillers, I primarily look to be surprised and there were multiple twists I didn't see coming at all. I constantly found myself wanting to read one more chapter. I also really enjoyed Jodi's character development. She really was able to find herself.

Thank you to NetGalley and Julie Soto for allowing me to read an ARC of The Thrashers early! What a ride this book was!

I am not usually a YA reader, but I will read anything Julie Soto releases and this one lived up to her other releases in a completely new way!

I thoroughly enjoyed stepping into the world of The Thrashers alongside Jodie. I enjoyed the realism of the characters in the way that each of them has their flaws mimicking the complexity, and oftentimes, selfishness and self absorbed nature typical of teenagers. I was on the edge of my seat, and while some points of the plot were predictable, that epilogue was well worth the wait!

Initially, I was disappointed by the lack of accountability that some characters were afforded at the end, but it was entirely realistic to real life scenarios dealing with similar outcomes as Emily’s.

Thank you again for allowing me to absorb this book early, NetGalley. It was a thrilling ride from start to finish.

It's official. I'll read anything Julie Soto writes. The genre switch was flawless. I've been attached to my book all day. Literally on the edge of my seat as the mystery unfolded. Let's hope I don't have nightmares about Emily now.

If you love Logan Echolls, you will love this book.

With Pretty Little Liars vibes all throughout, <i>The Thrashers</i> wove an interesting story about a group of teens maybe being haunted by a dead girl. I loved the feeling of not being able to trust any of the characters, even sometimes the main character. And while the mystery and the spookiness was good, what really shined through for me were Soto's characters.

I absolutely loved The Thrashers! Julie Soto has a way of writing characters that feel so real—you get pulled into their world, flaws and all. The story kept me hooked with all the twists, but it’s the characters and their messy relationships that really stuck with me. Five stars, hands down!

Holy. Actual. Crap. This book was unputdownable FOR REAL. It was just the perfect blend of mystery, paranormal, suspense, and teenage drama (perhaps even a touch of romance). The prologue hooked me immediately and I legitimately did not stop reading until I finished the whole book. Jodi, Zack, Paige, Julian, and Lucy were all such fascinating characters and had such an interesting friendship dynamic. Groups of 5 never work out perfectly…and when Emily dies after trying to be the sixth Thrasher, things go haywire. I loooooved that this incorporated some paranormal elements into the mystery and I really loved the entire journal plot line. So. Good. I’m crossing my fingers that a second book will happen eventually with how the ending played out. I definitely have a favorite Thrasher. While this definitely is more YA as it’s set in high school and doesn’t have a strong romance subplot or explicit scenes, it’s also not super light and fun. There are some heavier themes in the book. Julie truly can do no wrong with her books in my eyes as I simply devour them the second I start reading. Literally I couldn’t have asked for a better mystery book.

This book had me hooked from the first chapter and still hasn’t let go.

Thank you to Wednesday and Julie Soto for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Thrashers follows a group of five friends navigating life in their senior year, the rumor mill, and the legal system after someone on the periphery of their group dies.

Jodi girl, you’re better than me. She put up with so much more than she should have in the name of loyalty and love. And of course she was nicer than she should have been to Emily. She’s a Pisces after all!

The tension built up so much in the first half that I was genuinely on the edge of my seat for the second half. I thought it was going one direction but I had no idea. The epilogue had my jaw on the floor.

Overall one of my favorite reads of the year so far. PLEASE I need the sequel immediately.

The Thrashers by Julie Soto is an enjoyable and fast-paced read that kept me hooked from start to finish. The writing is solid, and the plot moves along quickly, making it perfect for anyone looking for a quick escape. However, while the story was engaging, I found myself struggling to connect with the characters. In particular, the obsession with Zack felt a bit over the top and, at times, annoying. Additionally, the paranormal elements of the story didn't quite resonate with me; I found them a bit weird and unnessecary tbh.

On a positive note, I did appreciate the sweet subplot of romance, which provided a nice balance to the rest of the story. The epilogue, though, really piqued my curiosity and left me questioning things, making me eager to see if there will be more stories set in this universe.

Thank you NetGalley for the earc!!

3.5 ⭐

Thank you to the publisher for an arc!

As someone who absolutely loved Julie Soto’s adult romances, I was so excited to read her YA thriller debut, and I was not disappointed. This book reminded me so much of Pretty Little Liars, which I loved when I was younger. It had suspense, drama, and a touch of romance that kept me hooked from the beginning.

The story revolves around Emily’s suicide, and I was immediately invested and wanted to find out what happened and why she took her own life. Emily was freaking crazy and it was so interesting to learn more about her and her involvement with the Thrashers. At times, the plot did feel a little slow, and I wasn't super eager to pick the book back up. The unexpected paranormal twist did take me by surprise a little bit, but I thought it was done well. At first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about it, especially since I didn't anticipate it going into the story. However, I think Julie Soto did a great job of incorporating it into the story to build the suspense and keep me wanting more.

Jodi, the protagonist, was a bit frustrating at times. I was a little annoyed with her obsession with pleasing Zack. It felt like her whole world revolved around him. I think she had good growth throughout the book and I liked that she was able to do the right thing in the end. As for the rest of the Thrashers, I thought they were really interesting to read about. I both liked and hated them at the same time, and found myself unsure whether I was rooting for or against them.

There was also a subplot of romance, which I was eating up! It was definitely a pair I did not expect at the beginning of the book, but I loved the slow burn and I was rooting for them so hard by the end.

The ending of the book was so worth it and it left me with my jaw on the floor. I cannot stop thinking about it. It did leave me wondering a little bit, and I would love to know what happens after the epilogue.

Overall, I would recommend reading The Thrashers if you are a fan of suspenseful YA thrillers, or if you want something with the same vibes as Pretty Little Liars.

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄
📔 13 Reasons Why/Pretty Little Liars
👻 Supernatural elements
💖 Enemies to lovers

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓'𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
The “Thrashers” make up a friend group that everyone wants to be in and everyone is terrified of. Jodi is the seemingly odd one out even though she has been friends with Zach Thrasher the longest. When a new girl, Emily, tries to force her way into the friend group, things get out of control and it ends with Emily dead. Everyone is quick to point fingers at the Thrashers but nothing is as simple as it seems.

𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
At this point, I would read a phone book from cover to cover if Julie Soto wrote it. This is her first time publishing in the YA/mystery genre and she hit it out of the park. I was hooked from the very beginning and it never lost my interest. All of the characters were so interesting and I enjoyed seeing the dynamics of the friend group and how they unraveled.

I was surprised by the supernatural elements throughout the story and I actually really enjoyed it. My one complaint is that the ending was so absolutely insane but also a little anticlimactic. I would have liked to see how everything ended up settling down and how the Thrashers went on with their lives. Apparently, there will be a second and third book in the series that I cannot wait for. 4.25/5⭐

High school is such a tumultuous time for people in general. You try to discover who you are and what you want your future to look like and, most of all, who are your real friends. The Thrashers was a story of the popular kids and the way they view the world around them.
This was such a rollercoaster of hidden truths, lies, and the price of popularity it has on the little people. Jodi Dillon was the outsider of the group, and her perspective made me doubt so much behind the death of Emily. The supernatural aspect behind all of the events leading up to judgment say for all of them had me wrapped in the story.
This book had me so wrapped up in Jodi's feelings I could not see until later thow excluded she was from the real story of how involved the Thrashers were in Emily's death. I wish there was more involvement with Hannah as she was so integral to the downfall of the Thrashers, but the suspense was also adding to the intrigue.
Overall, the story had me gripped, dissolving all of Jodi's thoughts, and seeing how she set her boundaries to start fresh was so fulfilling. I highly recommend this book if you absolutely love 13 reasons why and, in my opinion, a good girls guide to murder. These two stories had the same vibes as this gripping new story of Julie Soto. I applaud her for her diverse cast, subtle supernatural effect, and understanding most of all the mental toll that popularity has for those who don't see the consequences.